Bella hated these types of functions. They were just glorified dick measuring contests. Men and women that worked behind the scenes for the power players in Washington, trying to size each other up and get information―namely dirt―on their bosses' rivals where they could. A few of the men came looking for a piece of ass and there was no doubt that getting a quick role in the hay was just a wink and a smile away.
Even if Bella was interested, it wasn't going to happen. On the one hand she'd never been the type to go for a casual fling with someone. On the other, Jasper was protective of her, like a big brother. He felt that he was the one that had led her down the rabbit hole to the wonderland that was the political arena. The way he glared at potential suitors coupled with the rumors that were already circulating about them kept both the lotharios as well as the genuinely nice guys away.
So, as was the case when she had attended most of these types of functions with Jasper, she stood talking to him or some of the other women in the room. Of course, most of the functions that they had gone to before were smaller get-togethers in California. D.C. was a whole other ball game.
Here the attendees were more anxious to get what they wanted out of each other. They were blood thirsty whether in search of information or sex. Usually new blood like Bella's would have drawn them like wolves to the slaughter, but they knew Jasper a bit better, his having been on Senator Cullen's team before he had been promoted to Chief of Staff. With Jasper watching out for her, there was no way that they were getting near Bella, not to get information or hook up, whatever the case may be.
Bella was tired of sipping at her really bad glass of sweet tea. She'd never been much of a fan of the stuff, but it was that or some of the alcoholic beverages that seemed to be flowing freely. Knowing how much of a lightweight she was, there was no way she was touching anything with even the slightest alcohol content.
After an hour of watching Jasper chase away anyone that she might have had a potentially interesting conversation with and already having tried to participate in the insipid conversation of a group of young women who were talking about shoes, she decided it was time to go. She'd stood with those girls all of thirty seconds before she found herself in Jasper's company again, listening as he talked to a colleague she didn't know about some of the bills that were coming up in the new session.
It was better conversation, but still boring. After all, she knew that Jasper was holding his hand close, not showing his cards―or rather the Senator's cards―just yet. She already knew which ways the Senator was likely to vote on all the bills that were mentioned.
After a while she touched Jasper's arm, drawing his attention away from the nerdy guy he'd introduced as Tyler. Tyler had looked at her with some interest, but she had merely sipped her tea, showing that it wasn't returned.
"I'm going to go ahead and head out, Jazz," she said softly, putting her mostly full glass of tea on a nearby table that was already covered with empty beer bottles and glasses with melted ice floating in the remnants of mixed drinks.
"You sure, Bella? If you give me a few moments I can give you a lift home." Jasper replied.
Bella knew that usual the offer to drive her home was more about his wanting the chance to spend some time with Alice, but since Alice was actually not in D.C. at the moment, she didn't want him to go out of his way for her.
"No, thank you. I'm fine. I'll just catch a cab," she said with a smile.
Jasper frowned, obviously not liking the idea. "Bella…"
She put her hand on his arm and tiptoed up to whisper, "I know you have to stay and talk shop and Alice isn't arriving for another couple of days. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Jasper gave her a smile and nodded. "I'll see you bright and early at the office tomorrow then. Send me a text when you get home so I know you got there all right."
Bella nodded and turned to head out, stopping by the coat-check to get her coat, briefcase, and scarf from the girl reading a book behind the counter.
After slipping on the simple midnight blue long coat and the white cashmere scarf and matching hat and gloves that had been a gift from Alice and Esme she stepped out of the building into the cold D.C. air.
Hugging herself she rubbed her arms. She didn't know if she would ever get used to this cold weather. She was a west coast gal, used to the sunshine of Arizona and later California. This was ridiculous.
Before she had a chance to take a step in any direction she heard a voice coming from her left and she turned to see a man standing just out of the illuminating light of the sconces by the doors she'd just come out of.
"Not used to the cold? You get used to it after a while."
She blinked at the rich, sexy voice that made her shiver a bit and tried to peer into the darkness to see who was talking to her, but all she saw was his silhouette, the glow of his cigarette as he took a drag off of it, and the smoke that streamed up into the darkness as he exhaled.
"What? Oh. Um. Yeah. So I've been told." It would be hard to tell that she was known for her oration and speech writing skills considering she couldn't seem to answer this stranger in a coherent manner.
The man chuckled huskily and put out his cigarette in a nearby ashtray located on top of a trashcan.
"This is actually not that bad comparatively," he said as he stepped into the light, letting out the last stream of smoke from between his lips as she spoke. "Today was pretty mild."
"Mild? I hate to think…," she didn't finish her thought as he finally came into the light and she saw his face clearly.
He had to be the most handsome man she'd ever seen in her life. Even in his unkempt state, copper-like hair sticking up as if he'd continually run his hands through it, tie loose and askew revealing the top few buttons of his shirt were open, tired green eyes, and what looked to be at least two day's stubble growing on his chiseled jaw line, he looked better than any number of the Hollywood types she met while working with campaign in California.
She was speechless.
The man gave her a crooked smile and waited for her to continue, finally prompting her, "Hate to think…"
Her reply was a less than intelligent, "Uh…"
When she didn't finish her thought she chuckled and looked towards the doors she had exited moments before. "They still schmoozing in there?"
She nodded as he glanced her way, glad she didn't have to say anything out loud, cursing her tongue for not working.
He nodded and sighed. "I've been avoiding it."
"Oh?" Damn, couldn't she put two syllables together?
He smiled at her and shrugged. "Same people, same conversations. They think that they'll get a bit of information that will help them climb their way up the ladder." He smiled at her and shrugged, "Sometimes it works, but usually not till some people forget themselves and get schnookered, but that doesn't happen till later in the evening." He took a step towards her and fake whispered in a conspirital tone, "It's why the liquor flows so freely in Washington. It lowers inhibitions and makes tongues wag."
She couldn't help but chuckle at his words and tone.
"Thanks for your advice," Bella said.
"Want another piece of advice?" he asked.
She smiled and nodded, reaching up to brush a stray lock of brown hair away from her cold cheek with her glove encased hand.
"Don't walk to your car alone. Most of the political district here in D.C. is safe, but you never know," he said.
"Um, I don't have a car," she replied.
His brows drew together. "You were walking somewhere?"
"Uh, no, I was going to get a, uh, a cab actually." She really had to stop with the 'um's, 'uh's, and 'oh's, she thought to herself. Where was the confidence that she had displayed when participating in mock court cases or talking to some of the top law minds in the country.
"I hate to tell you, but you won't find a cab unless you call one ahead of time," he said with a frown. He ran his hand through his hair and looked up and down the street. "How far you do you have to go to get where you're going?"
"Uh?" Damnit! she thought, Fucking say something coherent, Isabella Marie! "Sanders Avenue." With the way she said it, it sounded more like a question.
He laughed. "Sanders? You really are new here. You were just about to hire a car to take you three blocks."
Bella blinked. "We're that close?" She blushed. "Sorry. I really don't know my way around yet."
"Obviously," he chuckled. "C'mon. I'll walk you home."
"Don't you have to go up?" Bella asked.
He shook his head. "Nah, I'm old-hat up there. I've started to blend in, like the furniture."
I seriously doubt that, she thought to herself.
She stopped herself from saying 'um' and finally got out, "Are you sure?"
He nodded and smiled.
Bella hesitated a moment and then nodded. "All right. By the way I'm B…"
Before she could say her name he stopped her. "No, no names. D.C. is all about who you are and what you do. That always seems to get in the way of everything. Let's just be a lady needing assistance and a gentleman that willing to help and leave it at that." And, with that he offered her his arm.
As she tucked her arm through his she tilted her head back and smiled at him. "Thank you, kind sir."
He gave her a crooked grin back and winked at her. "You're welcome, my lady."